Tess Howard struck twice as Cambridge City produced their best performance of the season to beat Investec Women’s League, Conference East leaders Wimbledon 2-0.

Cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, they inflicted only a second defeat of the campaign on the table-toppers, who had Olympic gold medallist Crista Cullen in their ranks.

City had warmed up for the match by drawing 1-1 at St Albans the previous day, with Becky Hayward grabbing a second-half equaliser in Hertfordshire.

They lost the services of talented youngster Kate Axford to a hip injury, but Anna Traherne was called up to the squad at short notice and they delivered the goods to stun Wimbledon the following day.

“The team had played well the day before against St Albans, digging in without really dominating in a hard-fought match,” said team manager Dee Butler.

“In the warm-up the next day they just seemed to have a different air about them. Our girls just played their socks off in the first half and ran Wimbledon down for every single ball.

“The girls kept to the game plan and Wimbledon just couldn’t get past them, and they played their socks off again in the second half.”

City are fifth in the table and are attempting to catch fourth-placed Harleston Magpies, who are seven points ahead of them, with four matches remaining.

Meanwhile, there was late heartbreak for City in England Men’s League, Conference East as they lost 3-2 to leaders Teddington.

They equalised twice in a frantic first half thanks to strikes from Marshall Roberts and Scott Perry.

City, who had won seven matches in a row, dominated possession in the second period and had numerous opportunities to get a third goal, but it would not come and they were hit by a sucker punch in the last 90 seconds.

“We dominated possession and territory for large parts of the game, carving out a number of good chances, but we just could not score a third goal,” said captain Warren D’Souza, whose team would have gone level on points with their opponents had they won.

“It was of course desperately disappointing to lose in the final minutes of the game, but credit to Teddington as they were clinical when they needed to be.

“Our young team have gained some massive experience points. We know we can mix it with the best in the league and we have to remember that moving forward.”